Topic: Growth Stocks

ALIMENTATION COUCHETARD $63.53 – Toronto symbol ATD.B

ALIMENTATION COUCHETARD $63.53 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couchetard. com; Shares outstanding: 567.4 million; Market cap: $35.9 billion; Dividend yield: 0.4%) has agreed to buy Ireland’s Topaz chain. The price was not disclosed but is likely in the $400-million range.

Topaz is the country’s leading operator of gas stations and convenience stores. The chain consists of 464 locations across Ireland.

This purchase is smaller than Couche-Tard’s $2.7-billion purchase of Norway’s Statoil Fuel & Retail gas station chain in June 2012 and The Pantry, which it bought for $1.7 billion in March 2015. The Pantry operates 1,500 convenience stores in the U.S.

However, acquisitions of all sizes are a key part of Couche- Tard’s growth strategy. Expanding in this way adds risk, but the company does a good job of integrating the businesses it buys.

Couche-Tard is a buy.

All best wishes!

…from all of us here at The Successful Investor Inc. and TSINetwork. ca. We wish you a terrific year-end holiday and a happy New Year!

— Pat McKeough

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